FREE flowing coffee will be served in Benguet’s capital town La Trinidad.
Valred Olsim, La Trinidad municipal tourism officer, said on February 7 to 8, unlimited coffee will be served at the municipal park with stakeholders urged to bring their own cups as the town celebrates its third coffee festival with the theme: “Seng-ew ni Kape, Tonos ni Umidi” (Aroma of Coffee, Harmony of Community) starting February 4 to 8.
He added the event seeks to also diversify the economic source of farmers.
“In the past tourism directions, we only have strawberries. Now we have expanded that, that is why the valley of colors theme, promoting colourful products, locations. For products we have strawberries, vegetables, coffee,” Olsim said.
Recent survey of the municipal agriculture office recorded more than 90,000 coffee trees in the valley, with 930 farmers and six coffee farming organizations.
An increased in the number of coffee trees were observed as compared to the survey in 2016 with closed to 40,000 coffee trees.
“Usually, the coffee farmers also have highland vegetables and strawberries. Once the demand grows, there will be more options. We imagine this coffee fest with representatives from coffee farmers, academe,” he said.
The five-day event will feature a La Trinidad Coffee conference, tours to coffee farms and facilities, and a coffee stakeholders’ assembly.
He said the second day will be filled with coffee appreciation, cupping and barista demo.
Commercial coffee varieties will be presented, followed by taste testing with stakeholders and lectures from experts on various coffee varieties.